The organization had an open house and provided tours for one of the six units, which by year's end will contain its offices, a museum and a center for historic preservation, said Martha Hagedorn-Krass, Historic Topeka Inc. president.

"It's an educational experience," Hagedorn-Krass said about the houses. "For most people it's a link to the community."

William Wallace Ross, a Topeka politician and entrepreneur, developed the row houses, 515 S.W. Van Buren, in 1878. The houses are listed on the National Register for their historical association with the growth and development of Topeka and as an example of Italianate-style architecture, according to Historic Topeka. The Italianate-style was popular for houses from 1860 to 1880 and was characterized by being masonry, two stories high, having wide projecting cornices and porches.

The houses also were modeled after ones in Washington, D.C., where Ross lived before the construction of the row houses in Topeka. The Washington-type row houses feature a square bay that projects into public space and dog-legged floor plans that contain a narrow side hall allowing for three large rooms on each level. The original Ross Row Houses had porches that connected to the units, but those have been removed.

The buildings fell into disrepair and were condemned in the early 1990s for owing back taxes, Hagedorn-Krass said. Historic Topeka purchased the houses in 1993 for $1 through a rule that allows not-for-profit organizations to assume property that has back taxes, she said. Repairs have cost more than $250,000, but the cost has been offset by grants, private contributions and volunteer labor.

Hagedorn-Krass said by the end of 2001, the renovation of last two units would be completed. Two units are occupied by a stained-glass artist and the other two units will be occupied by a religious history museum and an art gallery. The sixth unit is occupied by lawyers and lobbyists. An endowment fund has been created for long-term maintenance of the building, she said.

Nada Cowherd, of Topeka, toured the house, and said it was a good idea to restore old buildings.

"They did a wonderful job," she said. "I enjoyed seeing it."

It couldn't have been done without teamwork, Hagedorn-Krass said.

"It was positive team work that yielded high-quality results," she said.

J. R. Mendoza can be reached at (785) 295-1192 or jmendoza@cjonline.com.